Transformation of the Political System in Azerbaijan

The project tries to explain within the historical-institutionalist analysis framework the transition of the post-Soviet political system in Azerbaijan, in particular the logic of the persistence of soviet institutions far beyond the collapse of the soviet system. The research question is examined mainly by verbal data collection, observation and qualitative content analysis. The most important result thereby is the insight that it makes analytically sense, to distinguish during periods of political transformation, in addition to the differentiation of formal and informal institutions, between new and old actors (as bearer of informal institutions) as well. Moreover, the informal institutions resisting short-term upheavals and changing rather incrementally with the societal overall development are much more decisive for political transition outcomes than the formal ones.